ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
Antibiotics
;
Archaebacteria
;
Ribosomes
;
Evolution
;
Thermoplasma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary The susceptibility of Thermoplasma acidophilum (an extremely acidophilic, moderately thermophilic, wall-less sulphur-oxidizing archaebacterium) to 50 ribosome-specific inhibitors of polypeptide elongation was surveyed using efficient poly(U)-and poly(UG)-directed cell-free systems and comparable reference systems derived from eubacterial (Bacillus stearothermophilus, Escherichia coli) and eukaryotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) species. Under optimum temperature (58° C) and ionic conditions for polypeptide synthesis Thermoplasma ribosomes are only sensitive to the 70 S/80 S ribosome-directed aminoglycoside neomycin, and to five 80 S ribosome-directed inhibitors all of which (α-sarcin, mitogillin, restrictocin, dianthin and gelonin) impair the functioning of the large (60 S) ribosomal subunit. Sensitivity of the three structurally related compounds α-sarcin, mitogillin and restrictocin and susceptibility to neomycin place Thermoplasma ribosomes between those of Sulfolobus solfataricus (only sensitive to α-sarcin) and Methanococcus vannielli (sensitive to α-sarcin, mitogillin, restrictocin and neomycin but also affected by a variety of 70 S ribosome-directed drugs). The phylogenetic significance of the greatly diversified antibiotic sensitivity spectra displayed by archaebacteria in general, as opposed to the uniform ones exhibited by eubacteria and eukaryotes, is discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00331605
